Its fanfiction. If you want to see it stick to Character lines, go read
the original stuff, because only the original authors know for sure how
they would act. It's their series, not ours. All we can do is guess.

I am aware that this is fanfiction, and I have great affection for many
stories which are not original flavor.  My point here was that, since
we are writing with somebody else's characters, I believe we have
a certain obligation to try to remain true to those characters.  This 
can be done in a very serious setting (as Richard Lawson, Nick Leifker,
Krista Perry, Mike Loader, and many others have aptly demonstrated).
Dave Eddy has done it as well, in other chapters of "Nekophobia"
and in his other writings.  I did not think he succeeded in this
last chapter, however, in remaining true to the characters, even
within the wide variance of interpretation which must be assumed
in fanfiction.  And  since part of the point of posting on the FFML is 
to generate feedback, I hope that it is not considered out of line to 
voice a difference of opinion about how the characters are being 
treated, or how the story is written.  

A matter of preference. Either reaction is supported in the manga, but
again, only the author knows for sure.

Yes, it is a matter of preference.  I didn't intend to phrase that as if it
were the only way to write it - it was merely my own suggestion as to 
how he might make that part of the story stronger.  Other authors 
would assuredly have different suggestions.  

. . .re read the entire scene again. This is not a random re-counting of
the manga, for there are examples of Ranma being quite malicious as
well.  It is systematically re-called in a dream by Ranma, where dreams
are often distorted perceptions. If Ranma is recalling this moment with
Ryouga, then you can't append something like you just did on the
'author' for including this scene. The ideas could be very real for
Ranma, and maybe -RANMA- is defining Ryouga's character by this moment.

I did re-read the entire scene, and it still wasn't made clear that Ranma was
dreaming something other than what actually happened.  My point was
that it misleads the reader - and since that portion of the Ranma manga
has not been released commercially, many readers have probably not
ever seen it.  I believe that increases the imperative for accuracy, and
that if Ranma has distorted the incedent in the dream, he should make
a point of clarifying it when he wakes up.  He doesn't.

Irrelevant when the above is realised. If you don't believe the
portrayal of the characters in the story, then I'm sure you know where
you can find the original works.

There is only one _real_ Ranma, and he/she never appears in fanfiction.
The way you state your aruguements leaves most people who read it to
think that no fanfiction will ever appeal to you because it is just
that.

I think you're going to far.  If no fanfiction would ever appeal to me, what
would I be doing on the FFML?  It was not my intention that this discussion
include personal attacks.  

 

Ever read Daigakusei no Ranma?

Yes, I have read it.  I'm not sure what you're trying to say.

Of course, this is -your- view that you are imposing Dave to have, when
he probably doesn't think that nonsense in the slightest.

Of course it's my view.  I'm not "imposing" it on anybody, but I am voicing
it during the course of a criticism.  And how does calling it "nonsense" not qualify
as one of these personal attacks which we're trying to avoid?  

You are of course entitled to your opinion on these matters, however the
entire 'opinion' seemed to be a 'diplomatic attack.' Most of us are
writing for personal entertainment, much like Mr. Eddy, or most of
Colliding SYmphonies, as are many readers. I've read many works where I
did not enjoy the content, and took the entertainment out of reading
fanfiction, but I didn't use subtle attacks on the author because his
story didn't agree with me, which is what this seems to be.

 
*sigh.*  It wasn't meant as a "subtle attack" or anything of the like.  I didn't 
enjoy the story, I explained why.  Whether Mr. Eddy finds the criticism to
be any use to him at all is up to him, but it wasn't meant as a slight upon
his person.  

I'm sorry if you were dissappointed by the story, but the way your
arguement is laid out reminds of of other authors who think that
'original flavour' is the only kind of fanfiction which has a place
here. Though this may/maynot be your view, it could have been much more
acceptably 'gotten across' than it had. Either way, don't expect much
support for that view, because it narrows the field of view for
fanfictions.

To set the record straight, that is not my view.  My apoligies if I did 
not make that clear.  There are certainly a great many stories which
are not even remotely original flavor that I have enjoyed immensely.

I encourage EVERYONE that I can to write as much as they can. True, many
of them write things I donot like, but I've only 'ripped' people for
poor use of English, not for content.

I encourage everyone to write as much as they can as well.  I hope that
you didn't interpret my criticism as saying that Mr. Eddy should stop 
writing.  You seem to have interpreted it as a "rip," which, again was 
never my intention.

To have others to adhere to the opinions that were pointed out in your
response to Dave Eddy's Nekophobia, many -good- fanfictions would never
have been written.

Including Nekophobia.

Oh, please.  Now this really is going too far.  At what point did I tell Mr. Eddy 
that he should not have written "Nekophobia?"  

Grayson Towler
grayson@rigroup.net

http://www.rigroup.com/~grayson/relentless